France's Defense Minister Questions The U.S. Commitment To NATO

French Defense Minister Florence Parly said the European members of NATO should build their 'autonomy' amid questions over US commitment to the alliance

Reuters: French minister expresses concern about long-term U.S. commitment to NATO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said on Monday that Europe was concerned about the United States’ long-term commitment to NATO and implicitly criticized President Donald Trump’s approach toward the military alliance.

Trump, as the alliance’s de facto leader, has made defense spending a priority after years of defense cuts following the 1945-90 Cold War. He has questioned NATO’s value to Washington.

“What Europeans are worried about is this: will the U.S. commitment be perennial?,” Parly said during an event in Washington. She will meet with her American counterpart at the Pentagon on Monday to discuss issues including Syria.

“The alliance should be unconditional, otherwise it is not an alliance. NATO’s solidarity clause is called Article 5, not article F-35,” Parly added, in a reference to the Lockheed-Martin F-35 jet fighter. She did not mention Trump specifically.

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Update: France questions if US support for NATO is 'perennial' (AFP)

WNU Editor: And the French Defense Minister does another dig at the U.S. .... French Defense Chief: ‘It’s Called Article 5, Not Article F-35’ (Breaking Defense).

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